Track diagram panel for railway traffic controlling systems



K. W. ABENDROTH TRACK DIAGRAM PANEL F Nov. 5, 1963 OR RAILWAY TRAFFICCONTROLLING SYSTEMS Filed Feb. 13, 1961 o 0 A n o O o o o o o \l Q /J fT o o o 0 o 0 5 0 o 0 IL IO o G o F 2 J O Q Q Q 0@@@ @Q Q U U @@o@0@o Q@7@@ o o a h JDNJD) 9 s 2 m m Q Q Wm b m. n/H2 7 HIS 'ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent 3,110,620 TRACK ETAGRAM PANEL FUR RATLWAY TRAFFICCGNTRGLLHZG SYSTEMS Karl W. Abendroth, Rochester, N.Y., assignor toGeneral Signal Corporation, a corporation of New York Filed Feb. 13, 1%Ser. No. 88,996 5 Claims. (til. 340225) This vinvention relates ingeneral to railway traflic controlling systems and more particularlyrelates to a track diagram panel for such systems.

In railway signalling practice it is common procedure to control thetraffic over a particular division or track section from a controlmachine in a central control tower. The particular track section to becontrolled may consist of a plurality of tracks having crossovers,sidings and the like, over which traffic may be permitted in bothdirections over the same track at different times. The necessary lightsignals and switch machines are provided to route the trains inaccordance with the operators controls.

The control tower is also usually provided with a track diagram panel onwhich is simulated the actual track diagram of the section of trackwhich is being controlled. This track diagram panel is also providedwith lights to indicate the position and progress of the train as wellas lights to indicate the signal and switch movements. Also, other typesof signal or indication ligh may be incorporated on the panel ifdesired.

Under present day practice where longer sections of 7 track are underthe control of one operator, such track diagram panels become quitebulky and of considerable size and are usually constructed specially fora particular track layout. Thus, such panels are not universal in useand changes in a track layout can become quite costly.

With the above considerations in mind, the present invention proposesthe assembly of a track diagram panel which is miniature in size andwherein the ront plate portion of the panel is separate and isindividual insofar as the track diagram is concerned but the rearportion of the panel is made up of a plurality of miniature modularunits which are easily and quickly assembled or disassembled on abackplate. Each modular unit is interchangeable with another so that anytype of a track diagram may be assembled to the back plate as desired,it merely being necessary to furnish a front panel plate to correspondto the back plate assembly of the track diagram.

More specifically, each modular unit consists of a certain section ofthe track diagram and may be assembled to represent a straight sectionof track, a turnout, or a crossover or the like as desired. Thesemodular units are assembled to the back plate in building block fashion,side by side and one above the other, to form the desired track layoutindicated on the front panel plate. The back panel plate is of sheetmetal material and is provided with rows of holes therein evenly spacedand may be cut to the exact size of the front panel plate. The frontpanel plate is provided with holes only to match the track diagram.

Each modular unit comprises a metallic block having lamp receptacleholes therein which are in alignment with the holes in the back plate.Associated with each receptacle block is a terminal board ofapproximately the same size which is provided with spring biased contactrods and wire terminals which are also in openings spaced in alignmentwith the holes in the back plate.

In assembly, each modular unit receptacle block is supplied with lampsin the lamp receptacle holes which match the holes in the front panelplate. The modular unit terminal boards are supplied with spring biasedconice tact rods and wire terminals in the openings which match thelamps. The spring biased contact rods hold the lamps in their respectivereceptacles and furnish energy thereto through the wire terminals. Lightis supplied from the lamps through the holes in the front panel plate tothe track diagram. Clear or colored transparent inmrts are positioned inthe holes in the back panel plate and in front of the lamps to projectthe desired color of light to the track diagram. A plate of non-glareglass is placed in front of the front panel plate and this glass plate,the front panel plate and the back panel plate are held together in asuitable frame or housing.

Other objects, purposes and characteristic features of the presentinvention will be apparent or pointed out as the detailed descriptionprogresses with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein likereference characters refer to like parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front plan view of a portion of a track diagram panel of thepresent invention showing a section of typical track layout with therear mounted modular units indicated by dotted rectangles;

FIG. 2 is a top elevation sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 astaken on the line 22 of PEG. 1 and viewed in the direction of thearrows;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevation sectional view of part of theapparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as taken on the lines 33 of FIG. 2 andviewed in the direction of the arrows and shows the panel assembly withone of the modular units comprising a terminal board and lamp unitmounted thereon;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged back view of the panel assembly showing onecomplete and one partial adjoining modular unit with certain partsbroken away for clearness, and

FIG. 5 is a further enlarged partial sectional view of one of theterminal board spring biased contact rods shown in FIG. 3 which hold thelamps in their receptacles and also shows an associated wire terminalconnector.

Referring now more particularly to the track diagram panel assembly asshown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the complete panel structure is supported ona sheet metal back panel plate 11 which is the full size of the paneldiagram. This back panel plate 11 is provided with rows of round holes20 therethrough, which holes are equally spaced from one another bothvertically and horizontally and extend over the entire surface thereof.The various sectional modular units are attached to the back of thisback panel plate 11 in a particular order to form the desired trackdiagram, as will be explained in detail hereinafter.

The front panel plate 13 is of the same size as the back panel plate 11and may be of metal, plastic or any other suitable material and isattached to the back plate 11 by cement or otherwise suitably fastenedthereto. This front panel plate 13 has the track diagram suitablypainted or imprinted thereon as shown in FIG. 1, and for the purpose ofillustration indicates four single tracks T1, T2, T3 and T4, two singlecrossovers C1 and C2 and a double crossover C3. Small holes 14 areprovided within the outlines of the tracks and crossovers. These holes14 are spaced to match the spacing of the holes 20 in the back panelplate 11 and are in alignment therewith when assembled, the plates 11and 13 having register pins 40 passing therethrough to retain thisalignment. The purpose of the holes 14 in the front panel plate 13 is topermit the passage of light beams therethrough from the modular units tothe front of the panel. Similarly, small holes 15 are provided in thefront panel plate to provide signal and switch indication lights andother purposes.

The front panel plate 13 is covered with a sheet of nonglare glass 15and the complete panel structure including the glass 16, the front plate13 and the back plate 11 is enclosed and held together by a channelshaped frame 17 or other type of suitable housing.

Referring now more particularly to the structure of the back panel plate11 and the modular unit lamp receptacle blocks 12 and the means forfastening the receptacle blocks 12 to the back plate 11, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, the back plate 11 is provided with rows of holestherethrough equally spaced apart both in vertical and horizontaldirections. Certain of these holes, such as the countersunk holes 18,are for the purpose of anchoring stud bolts 19 therein. These st-udbolts 19 extend horizontally away from the rear face of the back plate11 and form a supporting means for the modular units. The other holes 20in the back plate 11 are for the purpose of transmitting lighttherethrough to the (front of the panel.

Each of the lamp receptacle units 12 primarily comprises a metallicblock which also has rows of transverse holes therethrough equallyspaced to match the holes in the'back plate 11. The four corner holes 21are sized to fit over the stud bolts 19 whereas the other holes 22 serveas receptacles for the lamps 23. These metallic blocks are preferablymade of aluminum, nickel or the like to provide good light reflectivityand quick heat dissipation. Each lamp receptacle block 12 also has theedges of its four sides formed'with semicircular cut outs so that whentwo such blocks are positioned abutting each other, as shown in FIG. 4,another row of holes 22 is formed.

As previously mentioned, each modular unit is assembled to represent acertain track section part of the track diagram as indicated in FIG. 1by the dotted lines. Referring now, for example, to the modular unit 12Ain FIG. 1, there has been shown a typical crossover track section C3.This particular modular unit 12A has been chosen as the one shown in enarged detail in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.

When the lamp receptacle block 12 is assembled to the back of plate 11,a lamp 23 is inserted into each of the holes 22 which are in alignmentwith the holes 14 located in the front plate 13 within the lines thatindicate the track diagram. Also, a transparent roundel 24 is insertedinto each of the holes 23 in the back plate 11 which are in alignmentwith the holes 14 in the front plate 13, so that a transparent roundel24 is positioned in front of each lamp 23 and behind each hole 14 in thefront plate 13. These transparent roundels 24 may be made of glass orany suitable type of thermo-plastic or the like.

Similarly, each of the holes 15 provided for the switch and signalindication lights are backed up by a transparent roundel 24 and a lamp23 located in their respective openings 26 and 22. With the lampreceptacle block 12 in position on the stud bolts 19, the transparentroundels 24 are held in position between the front plate 13 and the lampreceptacle block 12. The lamp receptacle block 12 is held in position bymeans of the bushing nuts 25 which are threaded onto the stud bolts 19.

The lamps 23 are provided with shouldered bases 26 which limit theirinward position within their receptacle openings 22 in the lampreceptacle block 12. These 7 lamps 23 are held in position by means ofspring biased contact rods 27 which are located on a terminal board 28which is also mounted on the stud bolts 19 and held in position by thecap nuts 29.

The terminal board 28 is of sheet insulation board and is approximatelythe same size as the lamp receptacle block 12 and is provided with rowsof holes 30 spaced similar to the holes 22 in the lamp receptacle block12. However, in comparison to the location of the holes 22 in, the lampreceptacle block 12, these holes 39 in the terminal board23 are locatedone-half space to the left and one-half space to the bottom with respectto the edges of the terminal board 28, so that all holes 30 are whollywithin the confines of the edges of the terminal board rather thanhaving semicircular cutouts along the edges as have the lamp receptacleblocks 12. Thus, when the terminal board 28 is mounted on the four studbolts 19 as shown in FIG. 4, its top and right-hand edges will extendover the edges of the lamp receptacle block 12 and overlap the edges ofthe adjacently mounted receptacle block 12. This procedure places a rowof holes 31 over the row of holes 22 formed by two abutting lampreceptacle blocks 12. "Furthermore, the remaining holes 3% will be inalignment with the remaining holes 22 in the lamp receptacle block 12.This type of assembly permits each receptacle block 12 to have its ownindividual terminal board 28 assembled thereto, the terminal boards alsoabutting each other when assembled in a group. it also permits a springbiased contact rod 27 to be positioned over a lamp 23 when it is locatedin one of the holes 22 formed by two abutting lamp receptacle blocks 12.

As each terminal board 28 is also an individual sectional unit made upto correspond to the particular .track section receptacle block 12 towhich it is attached, it is only necessary to provide contact rods 27 ineach hole 30 which is located directlybehind a lamp 23 in suchassociated receptacle block 12. As shown in rather enlarged size in FIG.5, each contact rod 27 is slidably mounted within an eyelet bushing 31mounted in the terminal board 28. In assembly, a first eyelet bushing 32is fastened into a hole 3%? in the terminal board 28 in-the usual Way.The eyelet bushing 31 is then pressed into the opening in the firsteyelet bushing 32 and a wire terminal 33 is clamped between the outerturned over edges of the two eyelet bushings 31 and 32. This type ofstructure provides a good electrical connection to a stationary wireterminal as compared to having a wire connection directly to the movablecontact rod 27. The

contact rod 27 is provided with an enlarged head portion 34 at one end.A coil spring 35 is placed over the shank of the contact rod 27 beforeit is passed through the opening in the eyelet bushing 31, thuspositioning said spring 35 between the head portion 34 and the eyeletbushing 31. The other end of the contact rod 27 is flared to provide ashoulder 36, thus retaining the spring biased contact rod 27 within theeyelet bushing 31.

With the terminal board 28 assembled on the stud bolts 19 and tighteneddown by the cap nuts 29 as shown in FIG. 3, it can be seen that the headportion 34 of the contact rod 27 bears against the base of the lamp 23and the contact rod 27 is forced to the rear against the bias of thecompressed spring 35. Thus, the lamps 23 are securely held intheir'respective receptacle openings 22 under spring bias and a goodelectrical connection is established between each contact rod 27 and itsrespective filament contact button 37 located in the base of the lamp.Energy is supplied to each lamp 23 through external wiring connected toits respective wire terminals 33, then through the eyelet bushings 31mid 32, the spring 35 and the contact rod 27 to the contact button 37.The metallic lamp bases 26 are grounded through their respective modularblock 12 to the back plate 11 which is connected to ground;

From the foregoing description with reference to the drawings, it can beseen and understood that the present invention provides a track diagrampanel which is compact in size and versatile in use. Various types ofminiature modular units representing certain parts of a track sectionmay be prefabricated and fastened individually to the panel to completethe desired track layout indicated on the front of the panel. Lamps areprovided only where necessary to give indications on the main frontpanel plate. The light from the lamps is projected through thetransparent inserts which may be clear or colored as desired to transmitthe proper color of light indication to the front of the panel.

Although the present invention has been shown and described inconnection with a railway trailic controlling system, similarapplication of the invention could be made to airport ground controlsystems and the like, wherein the panel diagram in the control centersimulated runways, roadways and such.

Having shown and described one complete form which the present inventioncould assume, it is desired to be understood that modifications could bemade therein, all Without departing from the spirit of the invention orthe scope of the appending claims.

What I claim is:

1. A railway track diagram panel comprising, front and rear platesmounted one behind the other with a plurality of aligned openings insaid front and rear plates, said front plate openings being determinedby a selected one of a plurality of simulated track layouts on itsexterior surface, a modular lamp unit containing a matrix of lampreceptacle blocks mounted behind said rear plate with a lamp inserted inselected receptacles of each of said blocks in accordance With thepattern of said selected one of said simulated track layouts for attimes being energized to transmit light through said predeterminedaligned openings in said front and rear plates and an insulated terminalboard mounted to the rear of said modular lamp unit having a pluralityof spring biased electrical conducting contact rods in registry withsaid lamps to establish an electrical connection and retain said lampsin their respective positions.

2. A railway track diagram panel according to claim 1 wherein atransparent roundel is provided in each of said openings in said rearplate behind which is disposed a lamp to distinctively display differentareas of the track layout configuration.

3. A railway track diagram panel comprising front and rear platesdisposed one behind the other with a plurality of aligned openings insaid front and rear plates, said front plate openings being determinedby a simulated track layout on its exterior surface and said rear platebeing provided with rearwardly extending stud bolts, a modular lamp unitmounted on said rearwardly extending stud bolts, said modular unitcomprising a plurality of lamp receptacle blocks, said lamps beingselectively energized in accordance with the configuration of said tracklayout to transmit light through said aligned openings in said front andrear plates and an insulated terminal board mounted upon said stud boltshaving a plurality of spring biased electrical conducting contact rodsin registry with said lamps to establish an electrical connection andretain said lamps in their respective positions, said lamp receptacleblocks being secured in place and separated from said terminal board bymeans of spacer nuts threaded on said bolts, said terminal board beingsecured in place by cap nuts threaded in said bolts.

4. The combination with a railway track diagram panel having front andrear plates mounted one behind the other with a plurality of alignedopenings in said front and rear plates, said front plate openings beingdetermined by a selected one of a plurality of simulated track layoutson its exterior surface and a modular lamp unit containing a matrix oflamp receptacle blocks mounted behind said rear plate with a lampinserted in predetermined receptacles of each said block in accordancewith the pattern of a selected one of said track diagrams for at timesbeing energized to transmit light through predetermined aligned openingsin said front and rear plates of, an insulated terminal board mounted tothe rear of said modular lamp unit having a plurality of spring biasedelectrical conducting Contact rods in registry with said lamps toestablish an electrical connection and retain said lamps in theirrespective positions, each said spring biased electrical conductingcontact rod comprising a round rod slidably mounted within a firsteyelet bushing which is mounted within a second eyelet bushing mountedWithin an opening in said insulated terminal board, said eyelet bushinghaving turned-over shoulders on each end to secure them to said terminalboard, a wire terminal clamped between the outer shoulders of saideyelet bushings, said rod having shoulders on each end thereof to retainit within said first eyelet bushing, and a coil spring mounted on saidrod and positioned between the inner shoulder thereon and the innershoulder of said first eyelet bushing to bias said rod to an innerposition.

5. A railway track diagram panel comprising, front and rear platesmounted one behind the other with a plurality of aligned openings insaid front and rear plates said front plate openings being determined bya selected one of a plurality of simulated tracl: layouts on itsexterior surface, a modular lamp unit containing a matrix of lampreceptacle blocks mounted behind said rear plate with a lamp insert inpredetermined receptacles of said blocks in accordance With the patternof one of said simulated track layouts for at times being energized totransmit light through said predetermined aligned openings in said frontand rear plate, each of said lamp receptacle blocks having semicirculargrooves formed on its side edges to form an additional row of lampreceptacles With an abutting block and an insulated ten linal boardmounted to the rear of each said lamp receptacle block having aplurality of spring biased electrical conducting contact rods inregistry with said lamps to establish an electrical connection andretain said lamps in their respective positions, said terminal boardsbeing mounted over said lamp receptacle blocks in offset relationshipthereto to position a spring biased contact rod over a lamp located inone of said additional rows of lamp receptacle openings established bysaid two abutting receptacle blocks.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,591,865 Peter Apr. 8, 1952 2,764,751 Gnadlre Sept. 25, 1956 2,804,607Nalle Aug. 27, 1957

1. A RAILWAY TRACK DIAGRAM PANEL COMPRISING, FRONT AND REAR PLATESMOUNTED ONE BEHIND THE OTHER WITH A PLURALITY OF ALIGNED OPENINGS INSAID FRONT AND REAR PLATES, SAID FRONT PLATE OPENINGS BEING DETERMINEDBY A SELECTED ONE OF A PLURALITY OF SIMULATED TRACK LAYOUTS ON ITSEXTERIOR SURFACE, A MODULAR LAMP UNIT CONTAINING A MATRIX OF LAMPRECEPTACLE BLOCKS MOUNTED BEHIND SAID REAR PLATE WITH A LAMP INSERTED INSELECTED RECEPTACLES OF EACH OF SAID BLOCKS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEPATTERN OF SAID SELECTED ONE OF SAID SIMULATED TRACK LAYOUTS FOR ATTIMES BEING ENERGIZED TO TRANSMIT LIGHT THROUGH SAID PREDETERMINEDALIGNED OPENINGS IN SAID FRONT AND REAR PLATES AND AN INSULATED TERMINALBOARD MOUNTED TO THE REAR OF SAID MODULAR LAMP UNIT HAVING A PLURALITYOF SPRING BIASED ELECTRICAL CONDUCTING CONTACT RODS IN REGISTRY WITHSAID LAMPS TO ESTABLISH AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AND RETAIN SAID LAMPSIN THEIR RESPECTIVE POSITIONS.